methylergonovine (oral and injection)

Methergine 0.2 mg

What is the most important information I should know about methylergonovine?

You should not use methylergonovine during your pregnancy. This medication is to be used only after delivery of your baby.

Do not breast-feed within 12 hours after taking methylergonovine. If you use a breast pump during this time, throw out any milk you collect. Do not feed it to your baby.

What is methylergonovine?

Methylergonovine is in a group of drugs called ergot alkaloids. It affects the smooth muscle of a woman's uterus, improving the muscle tone as well as the strength and timing of uterine contractions.

Methylergonovine is used just after a baby is born, to help deliver the placenta (also called the "afterbirth"). It is also used to help control bleeding and to improve muscle tone in the uterus after childbirth.

Methylergonovine may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

What should I discuss with my health care provider before using methylergonovine?

You should not use methylergonovine if you are allergic to it, or if you have:

high blood pressure;

toxemia of pregnancy; or

if your baby has not yet been born.

To make sure methylergonovine is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:

liver or kidney disease; or

risk factors for coronary artery disease (such as diabetes, menopause, smoking, being overweight, having high blood pressure or high cholesterol, having a family history of coronary artery disease).

You should not use methylergonovine during your pregnancy. This medicine is to be used only after delivery of your baby.

Do not breast-feed within 12 hours after taking methylergonovine. Methylergonovine may pass into breast milk in small amounts and could affect a nursing baby. In some cases, you will need to use this medication for up to 1 week after your baby is born. You may need to use a breast pump to establish and maintain your milk flow until your methylergonovine treatment is finished. If you use a breast pump during this time, throw out any milk you collect. Do not feed it to your baby.

How should I use methylergonovine?

Methylergonovine injection is given into a muscle or into a vein through an IV. You will receive this injection while you are in the delivery room and for a short time after your baby is born, if needed.

Methylergonovine oral is a tablet taken by mouth 3 or 4 times daily for up to 1 week after your baby is born.

Follow all directions on your prescription label. Do not take this medicine in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended.

Methylergonovine should not be used for longer than 1 week unless your doctor has told you otherwise.

Store at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

This list is not complete. Other drugs may interact with methylergonovine, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible interactions are listed in this medication guide.

Where can I get more information?

Your doctor or pharmacist can provide more information about methylergonovine.

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

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